Code Platoon Academic Catalog

Program Objective:Students will be taught the fundamentals of designing and building web applications

Program Length:14 weeks

Tuition:$13,000. All veterans are eligible for $10,500 scholarships.

What is taught?

The skills taught by Code Platoon (CP) are all revolved around getting a job as a junior or intern level software engineer. Due to the ever changing demands of the software engineering industry, the specific programming languages and/or web frameworks may be altered. In the near term, we are teaching students how to develop web development applications in the Ruby and Javascript programming languages. The frameworks used will be Ruby on Rails and ReactJS. In addition to these overarching skills/goals, we will teach in 3 large modules:

Module 1 (Weeks 1-4): Computer science / programming fundamentals

This includes algorithm scripting, version control, data types and structures (variables, booleans, integers, strings, objects, operators, loops, etc.). This also includes covering object-oriented programming, inheritance, polymorphism, database persistence, SQL, and data modeling an application. The languages to be covered in these weeks are Ruby, Javascript, and SQL. This module is important to build a base for students to think through problems, will build the skills necessary to troubleshoot issues, and will prepare students for first-round technical interviews.

Module 2 (Weeks 5-6): The World Wide Web

This module includes the foundations of how content on the Internet and on web pages is created. We will be covering HTML/CSS/Javascript as it pertains to a webpage. We will also cover how data is sent over the internet and how the HTTP/HTTPS protocols for the web work. Students will write their own HTTP server by the end of this module. This module is important because the world of software engineering and especially web development calls for engineers to have an understand of how their code will impact the larger web ecosystem.

Module 3 (Weeks 7-14): Creating Applications

This module will teach students how to create modern-day web applications, including database design and integration, web routing, and the Model View Controller framework through Ruby frameworks including Sinatra and Rails. Students will learn authentication, testing, and API integration as well. They will learn to integrate the ReactJS framework on top of their Ruby on Rails application. This is the most important week as it is where students learn the skills that employers will expect them to have on the first day of the job and they will see how all the skills learned in the first 2 modules will come together to build an application.

How will we know what is satisfactory academic progress?

Assessments will be given after each module and there will be daily homework to benchmark student learning.

What is your attendance policy?

Students are expected to be present in class every day from 9 AM to 6 PM. Excessive absences (more than 1 day a week or 5 days total) will evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Teaching assistants are available until 7:30pm, and it is generally expected that students will stay (at least ) that long.

What is appropriate behavior in the classroom?

Students are expected to be curious and kind, treating all people with respect. Students are expected to be in attendance and punctual every day. Students are also expected to troubleshoot their own problems, only asking after they have exhausted their own resources. There will be a minimum of 1-2 lectures per day with the remainder of the time being challenge-driven learning.

Process for withdrawal

If a student does not wish to continue in the class, he/she should approach the lead instructor and the executive director with reasons why they do not wish to continue. After the initial meeting between them, a formal written request to withdraw with an end date should be submitted within 48 hours.

Process for termination

Students can be asked to leave if they do not accomplish certain academic milestones, or for gross misconduct.

How do students file a complaint?

If a student wishes to file a complaint, they should first contact the lead instructor and the executive director for a meeting or write a letter to them expressing their complaint. Complaints will be addressed on a case-by-case basis within 24-48 hours.

How are students evaluated?

Students will be evaluated based on classroom performance, bi-weekly check-ins, attendance, homework, classroom challenges, and assessments.

How are students assigned grades?

Students are not assigned letter grades as there isn’t a rubric for each question. Students will have their work reviewed by instructors or teaching assistants who will also leave feedback on the problem in question.

The skills taught at Code Platoon prepare its students for working in a rapidly changing software development environment. We do not prepare or offer training for 3rd party certifications, such as Oracle or Microsoft Certifications.

Tuition Refund Policy

Student understands that Code Platoon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and that the costs and expenses Code Platoon incurs to offer the program substantially exceed the tuition paid under this agreement. As such, this agreement to pay tuition is not subject to any adjustments because of illness, absence, withdrawal, or dismissal of the student from Code Platoon for any cause except as expressly stated herein. The student understands and agrees that the student is enrolled for the entire program and is liable for the entire tuition amount upon the signing of this agreement; an election by the student to pay tuition in installments is also available. Unless tuition payment is made in accordance with the payment schedule in this agreement, Code Platoon may withdraw the student from enrollment and deny the student admission to class; in such case the student will still be liable for the full tuition, unless this agreement has been terminated as set forth herein.

Tuition adjustments will be made only in accordance with the following terms:

Student being called to duty or active service.

Student understands and agrees that withdrawal after this agreement is signed will result in damages to Code Platoon, including the risk that Code Platoon will be unable to fill the resulting vacancy in student’s class, and the costs and disruption to the class which may result from filling the vacancy if another student can be found. Code Platoon is entitled under applicable law to collect the full amount of tuition from the student upon execution of this agreement.

No other tuition refunds, adjustments, or pro-rations will be made unless approved by the Executive Director, in his or her sole discretion.

Code Platoon reserves the right to refund the deposit and any prepaid tuition in the unlikely event that circumstances beyond its control force Code Platoon to cancel or reduce the size of the program for which the student is enrolled, without further obligation or liability.

Code Platoon is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Any questions can be directed to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701, or at www.ibhe.org.